Filler rod in a pinch

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Here comes the FLAME magnet question just before the new year.I only have 1/16” aluminum rod and I need 3/16…..to practice…of course nothing will be open for days.I thought I saw something last year where you could twist two small rods to make a thicker one in a pinch. I could have dreampt it while on a deep ether binge stupor….Any ideas or should I just wait.
Reply:Sure, whats the worst thing could happen if you tried it.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:i've done that with steel mig wire before...  worked fine, but it wanted to curl rather than be straight.MillerMatic 252, HTP 221 w/cooler, Hypertherm PM45, Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC"I'd like to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible"
Reply:3/16"? Don't you mean 3/32" ?  If so, then yes, two 1/16" rods would roughly equal a 3/32" by the time they are twisted together.

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Reply:

Originally Posted by Oscar

3/16"? Don't you mean 3/32" ?  If so, then yes, two 1/16" rods would roughly equal a 3/32" by the time they are twisted together.
Reply:

Originally Posted by frieed

i've done that with steel mig wire before...  worked fine, but it wanted to curl rather than be straight.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Oscar

3/16"? Don't you mean 3/32" ?  If so, then yes, two 1/16" rods would roughly equal a 3/32" by the time they are twisted together.
Reply:

Originally Posted by vdotmatrix

Here comes the FLAME magnet question just before the new year.I only have 1/16” aluminum rod and I need 3/16…..to practice…of course nothing will be open for days.I thought I saw something last year where you could twist two small rods to make a thicker one in a pinch. I could have dreampt it while on a deep ether binge stupor….Any ideas or should I just wait.
Reply:

This was an 18” piece and ended up with a 7.5” twisted pair.It was quite easy to twist. Will have to clean the ends with acetone that were in contact under pressure with vice and pliers.  And away we go!
Reply:That works with some filler metals,,I have several sizes of brazing rods that you can not bend at a large radius 90 degree angle, the rod cracks,,AND, then there is the low temp aluminum filler metal,,IIRC, it is non-crystalline,, which is the reason for the low melting temp,, that stuff bends like cast iron,, "CRACK!!"
Reply:Might be faster to use an electric drill.(variable speed)At least it works with solder and copper wire.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:I think there's an "Aaron 6061"  video where he twists together 3 lengths of tig filler to do some thicker aluminum. I've done it several times with a drill and a vise. I didn't twist it as tight  as you did, and it worked out fine. I still have a few pound of 1/16"  4043 that I don't use that often, its a good way to use some of it up.good luckAirco 250 ac/dc Heliwelder Square waveMiller Synchrowave 180 sdMiller Econo Twin HFLincoln 210 MPDayton 225 ac/dcVictor torchesSnap-On YA-212Lotos Cut60DPrimeweld 225 ac/dcPrimeweld mig180Miller AEAD-200
Reply:I have had to use a steel clothes hanger on a job site for filler rod.Dave

Originally Posted by vdotmatrix

Here comes the FLAME magnet question just before the new year.I only have 1/16” aluminum rod and I need 3/16…..to practice…of course nothing will be open for days.I thought I saw something last year where you could twist two small rods to make a thicker one in a pinch. I could have dreampt it while on a deep ether binge stupor….Any ideas or should I just wait.
Reply:Why am I not surprised
Reply:As posted above. Use a drill to slowly twist the rods to get them nice and tight. I've put the the other ends in the vise to hold them and then tap the finished product with a hammer to take some of the memory out of it. Otherwise the ends tend to split or separate in the middle of a weld.. Good luck.Thermal Arc 320SP ( Lorch )Cobra PythonsThermal Arc 300 AC/DC  ( Sanrex )ESAB 301i AC/DC  ( Lorch )Thermal Arc 161STL  ( WTL )Thermal Arc 190S  ( Sanrex )Cut Master 82, 42. Cut45 ( WTL )Victor Gas Apps.Boxes and boxes of welding crap.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Woznme

Why am I not surprised
Reply:The only thing on job was a propane cutting torch and a clothes hanger and a long drive back to shop.Dave

Originally Posted by Woznme

Why am I not surprised
Reply:I've heard of hanger wire being used for oxy welding, for non critical stuff it's ok. Wouldn't use it for any tig work though.
Reply:definitely not on ammonia lines !!!Last edited by albrightree; 2 Days Ago at 01:15 AM.Airco 250 ac/dc Heliwelder Square waveMiller Synchrowave 180 sdMiller Econo Twin HFLincoln 210 MPDayton 225 ac/dcVictor torchesSnap-On YA-212Lotos Cut60DPrimeweld 225 ac/dcPrimeweld mig180Miller AEAD-200
Reply:No I had do welding in field and it a 8 hour round trip to pickup real welding machine.  Dave

Originally Posted by Woznme

I've heard of hanger wire being used for oxy welding, for non critical stuff it's ok. Wouldn't use it for any tig work though.
Reply:I dont even twist them. Just feed both at the same timeSent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk